> Challenge is to locate 10 randomly selected countries
>
> http://www.geographyolympics.com/
>
> Easy ? A country with a rather large representation on this list
> will not like the Leaderboard
>
> ===============================================
> If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate
>
>
>

>
> On Nov 27, 2004, at 8:14 AM, Martin Baker wrote:
>
>> Name the states in which can be found the Northernmost, Southernmost,
>> Easternmost, and westernmost points in the United States...
>> This one is sneaky.
>
>
> Um. Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, and Hawaii again?
>
> I'm not so sure about Maine being easternmost; things like Puerto Rico
> and the US Virgin islands aren't considered parts of particular states,
> right? (Hmm. Ditto Guam/etc in the west?)
>
> BillW
>

> Isn't Alaska the Westernmost (the Aleutians) and North Carolina the
> Easternmost?

Hmm. The aleutians certainly extend further west than hawaii, but maine
goes further east than NC. I guess another tricky part is that florida,
which most of us (?) think of jutting out to the south-south-east is
actually further west than most of the east coast...

The Southernmost point is Hawaii, it is almos the same latitude as Mexico
City
The Northernmost point is in Alaska
The easternmost and westernmost points are both in Alaska, as the zero
meridian runs right through the tip. If you are one side of the line, you
are east, on the other side you are west.
Do you have ANY idea how many drinks I have one with that little bit of
Trivia?

> The easternmost and westernmost points are both in Alaska, as the zero
> meridian runs right through the tip.

I'm not sure I buy that. "westernmost" implies a relative value, to
the center of the US as your question was originally worded, IMO.
Word the question slightly differently, and I wouldn't mind buying
you a drink...

Had an interesting party conversation with someone who walked (well,
maybe it was snowmobiled) across the ice from Alaska to Russia, which
also resulted in examinations of maps. They're pretty close together!

Well, if you look at a globe, there is a point in one of the outmost
Aleutians( probably not shown on streets and trips, cause there aren't gonna
be any streets..) That is just over the 180 line, thereby making it part of
the Eastern Hemisphere, and that will be a short single malt, with a water
back...

On Sun, 2004-11-28 at 08:08 -0800, Martin Baker wrote:
> Well, if you look at a globe, there is a point in one of the outmost
> Aleutians( probably not shown on streets and trips, cause there aren't gonna
> be any streets..) That is just over the 180 line, thereby making it part of
> the Eastern Hemisphere, and that will be a short single malt, with a water
> back...

That's exactly what I was looking at, hence the 172.45 EAST I mentioned
(a point past the 180 line).

Streets and trips is quite complete, even for areas that don't have
roads (Attu island). TTYL

> Well, if you look at a globe, there is a point in one of the outmost
> Aleutians( probably not shown on streets and trips, cause there aren't
gonna
> be any streets..) That is just over the 180 line, thereby making it part
of
> the Eastern Hemisphere, and that will be a short single malt, with a water
> back...

Well, Attu is pretty far east of NC, but it isn't the easternmost part of
Alaska. It looks as if the 180th meridian manages to run through a big
swath of water, so the westernmost land in AK, Amatignak Is, looks to be
about -179deg 9
mins. The easternmost land, Semisopochnoi Is, 179 deg 46 mins.

These look to be pretty nasty places on the map. You are right, no roads.
Semisophnoi is only 10x12 miles but has a peak, Anvil Peak, rising 1600
feet. Amatignak is only about 3x6 miles but still manages to stick 1300
feet out of the water.

This country holds historical marker - large stone marked the exact
Geographic Center of Europe as measured in 1887 by geographers from
the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Population &#8211; 48 millions.
About half of population speaks official language and can speak easily
another (non-official language).
For another half of population this second language is native, they
understand official language but can't always speak it.
The non-official language was born on territory where the capital of
the country is situated.
Great efforts have been permanently undertaken to start referendum
about the language being official, but all the efforts were dumped
down heavily.

> Had an interesting party conversation with someone who walked (well,
> maybe it was snowmobiled) across the ice from Alaska to Russia, which
> also resulted in examinations of maps. They're pretty close together!

A great trip by car, all the way on "land" *, which has been done, is
London to New York. I consider the early sub-aqua part was the most cheating
as the car wheels probably weren't turning at the time.

On Sunday 28 November 2004 01:12 pm, Robert B. scribbled:
> Hawaii is the southernmost, my roomate was from there and bragged about
> being from "the south" moreso than us TN-grown boys.
>
>
> --------------------------------------------
> Robert B.
>
>
>
> {Original Message removed}

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Singer [KILLspamphystechKILLspamgmail.com]
> Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2004 4:52 PM
> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> Subject: Re: [OT] Geography Olympics
>
> A question for the geographic quiz:
>
> This country holds historical marker - large stone marked the exact
> Geographic Center of Europe as measured in 1887 by geographers from
> the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
> Population – 48 millions.
> About half of population speaks official language and can speak easily
> another (non-official language).
> For another half of population this second language is native, they
> understand official language but can't always speak it.
> The non-official language was born on territory where the capital of
> the country is situated.
> Great efforts have been permanently undertaken to start referendum
> about the language being official, but all the efforts were dumped
> down heavily.
>
> Guess what country I'm talking about.
>
> Regards,
> Mike.
>

Sounds a lot like Belgium, but that is too far west, unless you include
Ireland in "Europe". But then, I suppose it depends on what Europe looked
like in 1887. Based on my ITU map, it looks like the center would have to
be near Latvia today.

> This country holds historical marker - large stone marked the exact
> Geographic Center of Europe as measured in 1887 by geographers from
> the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
> Population &#8211; 48 millions.
> About half of population speaks official language and can speak easily
> another (non-official language).
> For another half of population this second language is native, they
> understand official language but can't always speak it.
> The non-official language was born on territory where the capital of
> the country is situated.
> Great efforts have been permanently undertaken to start referendum
> about the language being official, but all the efforts were dumped
> down heavily.
> Guess what country I'm talking about.
> Regards,
> Mike.

I must guess Ukraine. I have a coworker from there, with whom I (last
week) discussed the language issue. She was raised speaking Russian
and learned Ukrainian as a 2nd language at school, and was still in
school at such time as the big switchover from Russian to Ukrainian
occurred.

Much like the "center of North America" question. Any guesses? I'll
give a hint: It is a state in the USA.

Longitudinally, the center of Canada passes just outside of Winnipeg,
Manitoba, my home town.

Not really relevant, but hey, when else am I going to boost my own town on here?

Josh
--
A common mistake that people make when trying to design something
completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete
fools.
-Douglas Adams

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 08:58:02 -0600, Mike Hord <TakeThisOuTmike.hordEraseMEspam_OUTgmail.com> wrote:
> Much like the "center of North America" question. Any guesses? I'll
> give a hint: It is a state in the USA.
____________________________________________

> John, which software did you snip this picture out of ? Nice images...

Pedro

They came from Topo USA. That particular image doesn't really show the
software off all that well -- that area of the planet is mostly water. But
there is some vertical stuff on those islands so that helps. I like it for
finding radio paths - you can strike a line on the map and see the elevation
profile of the line. You can also map out a route and see the elevation
profile of the route - something hikers would probably like. It is kind of
fun when you are driving through a place with some terrain to see where you
will reach peaks and valleys. Less interesting here on the tundra of
central Michigan where it's so flat it makes the Netherlands look
mountainous.

I don't know if there's a "Topo Brasil" but I bet it would be a lot more
interesting than here!

I've got a pretty old version -- the new version seems to have satellite
images as well as the topo maps. Maybe if I'm nice Santa will bring me a
copy.

Mike Hord wrote:
> I must guess Ukraine. I have a coworker from there, with whom I (last
> week) discussed the language issue. She was raised speaking Russian
> and learned Ukrainian as a 2nd language at school, and was still in
> school at such time as the big switchover from Russian to Ukrainian
> occurred.

Just in case you find Australia and are thinking of
visiting, might pay to check out the lie of the land
first

===================

The questions below about Australia are from
potential visitors. They were posted on an
Australian Tourism Website and the answers are
the actual responses by the website officials,
who obviously have a sense of humour.

Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never
seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow ? (UK)

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit
around watching them die.

==========

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street ? (USA)

A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

==========

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow
the railroad tracks ? (Sweden)

A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots
of water.

==========

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in
Australia ? (Sweden)

A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

==========

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia ?
Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns,
Townsville and Hervey ? (UK)

A: What did your last slave die of?

==========

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo
racing in Australia ? (USA)

A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent
south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island
in the middle of the Pacific which doesn't... oh
forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday
night in Kings Cross. Come naked

==========

Q: Which direction is North in Australia ? (USA)

A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact
us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the
directions.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk
available all year round ? (Germany)

A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan
hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

==========

Q. Please send a list of all doctors in Australia
who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)

A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where
YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly
harmless, can be safely handled and make good
pets.

==========

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in
Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of
bear and lives in trees. (USA)

A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called
because they drop out of gum trees and eat the
brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can
scare them off by spraying yourself with human
urine before you go out walking.